The New York Giants haven’t reached the NFL playoffs since 2016 and their last postseason victory came in Super Bowl XLVI against the New England Patriots. Years of losing are starting to take a toll on the team’s biggest decision-maker.
John Mara, the Giants’ co-owner and CEO, has never been afraid to weigh in on the current state of the club. When it struggled under former head coach Pat Shurmur, the team president stated publicly he wasn’t happy. Four months later, Shurmur was fired.
After winning just 12 total games from 2017-19, Mara put the team on notice before the 2020 season. After hiring Joe Judge as head coach and giving general manager Dave Gettleman a longer leash, Mara expected more from the Giants. They went 6-10, falling short in one of the worst divisions in NFL history.
Judge made a strong impression in his first season, even starting to win a power struggle over Gettleman. Surprisingly, even after three disappointing seasons, Gettleman retained his role as GM this offseason.
Based on the latest message from Mora, this might be Gettleman’s last chance.
The Giants have been busy this offseason, a familiar theme for this franchise. New York landed a No. 1 wide receiver, signing Kenny Golladay to a huge contract. It also fortified the secondary, bringing in Adoree Jackson as the No. 2 cornerback.
But this front office has made big moves before, only to finish with a sub-.500 record that same year. In an interview with the New York Post, Mara made it clear that he has had about enough of the early finishes and disappointment.
“I’d be very disappointed if things don’t turn around quickly. … I’m starting to get impatient. It’s been a while. I’m tired of explaining to fans at the end of every season, ‘Things are getting better. We’re on the right track.’ You lose credibility with them.
The Giants are improving. They will likely enter the 2021 NFL season with a top-10 defense and defensive play-caller Patrick Graham is one of the best in the league. Meanwhile, an offense with Golladay, Saquon Barkley and Sterling Shepard could be exciting.
How far this team goes will all come down to Daniel Jones. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Jones has flashed talent through his first two seasons. But turnovers remain an alarming part of his game, often costing his team points or gifting excellent field position to the opponent.
It’s led to many questioning whether he can be a franchise quarterback and fueled speculation about New York eventually drafting his replacement. But it seems Mara not only believes Jones is the answer, but that he could one day hoist the Lombardi Trophy. He even suggests, if the right pieces are put around him, Jones could win multiple Super Bowls.
Confidence from an organization in a young quarterback is great, but owners can change their minds quickly. If Jones can’t improve upon his career 62.2% completion rate, 84.1 passer rating and doesn’t eliminate the historic number of turnovers, New York will make changes.
If the Giants miss out on the playoffs in 2021, it’s a near certainty that Gettleman will be gone. With a new decision-maker in the front office and a quarterback showing little evidence of greatness after three seasons, Jones might also be shown the door.
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